Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Taking on and Beating Opponents

Objective: To encourage players to take on opponents in 1v1 situations

Warm Up:Ball Work - In our warm up we are concerned with giving the players the confidence to use both feet. So we work through the following routine of touches:

1 Inside, inside, outside of best foot

2 Inside, inside, outside of weak foot

3 Inside, inside, outside, sole drag with best foot

4 Inside, inside, outside, sole drag with weak foot

5 Toes, toes, toes,step-over with best foot

6 Toes, toes, toes step-over with weak foot

7 Toes, toes, toes, step-over with best foot and then take away with weak foot

8 Toes, toes, toes. step-over with weak foot and then take away with best foot

9 Dribble forward and cut the ball with the inside of your best foot behind your weak foot

10 Dribble forward and cut the ball with the inside of your weak foot behind your best foot.

Work in small groups: Diagonals - This drill allows the you to work with a number of players at once. Get players to walk through the skill at first and increase the pace gradually. Split the teams into groups at diagonally opposite markers. The first two players at opposite cones (i.e yellow) go at the same time dribbling towards the centre cone. They must perform the designated dribbling skill and pass the cone on opposite side. The first two players at the other two markers then go and the drill continues to rotate in that manner.

To make it harder you can add a passive defender at the centre cone, who is allowed to intercept poorly timed moves.

To make it easier allow players to perform their favourite dribbliing skill.

Work in small areas: 2v2 Winner Stays On - This leads on nicely from the previous low pressure drill to a compettive situation.. Players are put into pairs and play 2v2 with other teams waiting on the side to come on. Once all four players are ready the defending pair, starting from the end zone, pass the ball to one of the attacking pair and press the ball. The attacking pair must combine to beat the defenders and get a foot on the ball in the end zone. If they succeed they attack again against a new pair, if they fail they become defenders and so on .

Group Work:Stanley Matthews Game - The game is the same set up as line soccer only in a 4v4 game you play with 2 balls. Players are not allowed to pass but can do a take with a player from your own team. To score a point for the team a player must dribble the ball and stop it on the end line.

To make it harder you can add a third ball. To make it easier add an end zone for the players to dribble the ball into, or add a neutral player. This game can be quiet tiring, so play it in short bursts.

Follow this with a normal game. Focus on the skills learnt in the session, giving particular praise to players dribbling and taking players on 1v1.